BANG!
As the seed landed on the ground, it began to tremble violently as if struck, emitting a soft glow.
Initially, a faint white light emerged, which gradually intensified, resembling a new star rising in the night sky. The light grew increasingly dazzling, and then, CRACK!!
The seed's surface split open, revealing a tender green sprout peeking out.
But that wasn't all.
The sprout grew rapidly, the branches extending in all directions almost instantaneously, with leaves as translucent and shimmering as emeralds.
The onlookers around began to notice this scene.
Phones were hastily pulled out to record the spectacle.
"Receive! Receive! Everyone who sees this is sure to strike it rich this year!"
"Look! Look! How magical!"
The crowd exclaimed in astonishment.
At this moment, the enforcers arrived, starting to maintain order and disperse the crowd. They looked with difficulty at the enormous, glowing tree that continued to grow.
"Wait, what is this even?!"
"I've got it—this is the Sky Dream Tree!"
"The Sky Dream Tree? This thing is naturally extremely difficult to grow. It requires copious amounts of genuine qi to nurture and an advanced formation master to control the infusion. How... could it appear in our Jiang City?"
"Most importantly... who could possibly persuade the proud sword cultivators of the Ancient Sword Manor to do something like this?!"
"Who knows!"
As the words were spoken, the trunk of the Sky Dream Tree gradually thickened, its bark showing ancient, intricate patterns.
The night sky above was tinted golden by the light of the Sky Dream Tree, as if clouds of good fortune were swirling above the canopy.
The trunk extended upward at an exaggerated speed, like an ethereal bridge connecting to the heavens.
The clouds in the sky began to swirl, forming a massive vortex, with lightning flashing within.
And then...
HUMM—!
The Sky Dream Tree burst into brilliance, its trunk gleaming like solid gold, radiating dazzling golden light.
Its branches stretched out across the sky, the leaves sparkling like golden foil, reflecting dazzling light with each breeze.
When the canopy pierced through the clouds, the golden radiance illuminated the entire sky, as if a golden sun had risen.
The entire city of Jiang City was bathed in this light, with the towering tree appearing from afar like a magnificent golden castle piercing through the heavens.
Its top reached the stars, the glow of the heavens intermingling with the golden light, creating a magnificent celestial curtain.
This spectacle left everyone dumbfounded, including Su Muwan, who stared at it in disbelief.
The Sky Dream Tree...
Qin Luo... how did he manage to get such a thing?
But this wasn't even the end.
As a shimmering golden aura passed by, a warm energy that everyone in Jiang City could feel emerged.
"Our cultivation speed has increased!"
"This! This is the power of the Sky Dream Tree!!!"
"Amazing!! Quick! Let's meditate and cultivate!!"
The martial artists were exhilarated, quickly sitting down to start their training.
Su Bailian, meanwhile, blinked, looking rather bewildered as she gazed at the golden light emanating from her arm.
While she didn't understand it, she somehow felt...
"I'm brimming with power!"
Su Bailian's eyes lit up.
Though she didn't know what was happening, she couldn't deny it felt incredible!
The entire city was undergoing the baptism of the Sky Dream Tree.
At that moment, a sharp, maniacal laughter rang out: "Hahaha!! It's the Sky Dream Tree! The closer you get to the Sky Dream Fruit, the faster your cultivation speed increases! If I consume the Sky Dream Fruit, I'll finally be able to break through my bottleneck in the early stages of the Peak Realm!!"
"All you sword practitioners! I don't care why you summoned the Sky Dream Tree in Jiang City, but this opportunity... it's mine!!"
Under his encouragement, more martial artists flooded in from every direction, and the sky seemed filled with flying silhouettes.
The Sky Dream Tree reached into the clouds without end, but the golden Sky Dream Fruit peeked through the clouds, its alluring glow becoming the ultimate treasure in everyone's eyes.
Among the crowd, someone recognized their identities and shouted out their names in excitement and awe.
"That's Li Tianba of the Divine Fist Sect! Liu Rufeng of the White Crane Sect! And Fire Cloud Master of the Crimson Flame Sect! Wow!! So many big shots are here!"
"It's all because of the Sky Dream Tree!!"
Everyone was stunned.
These hidden masters had never appeared so openly before, but now... they were all here for the Sky Dream Tree?
However...
Before any of them could climb very high on the Sky Dream Tree, HUMM!
A colossal formation descended upon all those attempting to scale the tree.
"All of you—get the hell off!"
"Is this treasure you mere trash can lay your hands on?"
Everyone looked up.
There, a red-faced old man hovered in midair, his hands behind his back. With just a casual wave, he conjured a formation powerful enough to suppress all these formidable figures.
Those who were suppressed exclaimed in disbelief: "Bai Yunfeng!! You're here?!!"
Bai Yunfeng!!
Everyone was stunned, the greatest formation master of the current era... Bai Yunfeng!?!
But... why is his face red?
Bai Yunfeng snorted coldly: "Not only am I here, but it was also old man me who opened this tree!"
With that, he glanced around impatiently.
Where the hell is that freak of a kid?
If he doesn't show up soon, other cities' folks are going to swoop in!
At the giant ferris wheel.
Su Muwan was utterly flabbergasted.
What was even going on right now?
She pointed to the group of people, turning to Qin Luo: "The... the people from the Ancient Sword Manor—you called them?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"And Bai Yunfeng, the top-tier formation master! Did you get him too?!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"How is that even possible?!"
Su Muwan was shocked—did Qin Luo honestly think anyone could just summon these legends so easily?
Qin Luo just smiled and shook his head: "Maybe it's because of you."
"Hey! I know my worth—my 'face' isn't that valuable!"
Su Muwan flailed her arms, protesting loudly.
Qin Luo just chuckled, amused by the astonished Su Muwan. He said gently: "Don't be so surprised."
"There's still more to come... things that will give you even more surprises."
With that, Qin Luo extended his hand, and under Su Muwan's astonished gaze...
"Yah!"
In one smooth motion, Qin Luo bent down, his arms firmly around Su Muwan's shoulders and knees, lifting her effortlessly into a princess carry.
Su Muwan instinctively wrapped her arms around Qin Luo's neck, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Wh-wh-what's going on here?
Qin Luo gazed at the blushing Su Muwan and smiled: "Remember when I said today was going to be a 'trip to the heavens' for you?"
"Th-th-this..."
Su Muwan was so flustered she couldn't even speak properly: "Q... Qin Luo... what are you planning..."
"Hehe, just watch."
Qin Luo chuckled and then opened the door to the ferris wheel cabin.
A gust of cold wind swept in, while Qin Luo's gaze took on a shimmering, golden hue.
He took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Come out!!"
"Kimmy!!"
"Kimmy... what the heck?!"
Su Muwan was thrown into confusion.
And why did Qin Luo have to yell so loud?
How humiliating!
The very next second.
"ROAR!!!!"
A deafening roar shook the heavens!!
In the sky, an immense, five-clawed golden dragon appeared suddenly.
Its scales gleamed with dazzling golden light under the radiance of the Sky Dream Tree, its presence awe-inspiring and majestic.
As though the entire world had been shaken by its arrival.
"A dragon! It's actually a dragon!!"
"A golden dragon!"
Bai Yunfeng's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the golden dragon?!
This kid... did he even rob some techniques from the Dragon King Palace?
Among the onlookers, whether those fighting for the Sky Dream Fruit or the ordinary spectators, all were rendered speechless by this sudden appearance.
What was happening? Were they all dreaming? Or was there some event tonight with such a grand spectacle?
Kimmy lowered its head, gently bowing its body in front of Qin Luo and Su Muwan.
Qin Luo smiled faintly, lifting Su Muwan and then leaping onto the dragon's back.
"Is... is this dragon yours too??"
Su Muwan was astounded, clinging tightly to Qin Luo's neck, her eyes aglow with amazement.
This... this can't be real!
"Kind of."
Qin Luo looked down and smiled faintly.
Then, he whispered softly: "Let's ascend, Kimmy."
So... why is it called Kimmy?!
Su Muwan buried her face in Qin Luo's chest.
What kind of name is that? This 'Kimmy' name is so embarrassing! Who taught you how to name things anyway!
"ROAR!"
The golden dragon let out a low roar, carrying the two of them straight toward the pinnacle of the Sky Dream Tree.
As they passed Bai Yunfeng and the sword cultivators below, all were left ignored.
All the martial artists who had been subdued were shocked: "What? You're playing favorites!"
"There are obviously two people on that dragon, right?"
"And you just let them board?"
Bai Yunfeng said blandly, "Old man, I didn't see anything."
Jian Feichen flew over and said indifferently, "Neither did I."
Everyone: This is rigged!!!